High-frequency measuring system



Sept. 1o, '1929.

H'. A. AFI-'EL HIGH FREQUENCY MEASURING SYSTEM originaiFiled Nov. -21, 1924 INVENTOR.-y i

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 10, 192.9.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMAN A. AFFEL, OF RIDGEWOOD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN TELE-l PHONE AND TELEGBAPH COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

HIGH-FREQUENCY MEASURING SYSTEM.

Original application led Nm This invention relates to high frequency measuring systems and part-icularly to means for lmeasuring the impedance'of a circuit at high frequencies. l This is a division of the applicants copending application, Serial N o. 751,406, filed November 21, 1924. u

Asis well known'to those familiar with the A art, apparatus which is entirely satisfactory for the measurementof low frequency currents proves inadequate when high frequency currents are to be measured. One of the ob-` jects of the present invention is to measure high frequency currents and potentials,"\the method for doing which consists in balancing an unknown direct current potential by a known potential, the direct current potential being produced by `rectification or other method of conversion of unknown and known 270 currents respectively, of frequencies at which it is desired to measure. By translating the alternating currents into proportional direct current potentials and by opposing these potentials in a circuit having a'center zero galvanometer, a visual indication of the balance of the high frequency currents is thereby afforded, and it is possible to eliminate serious errors inthe testing apparatus heretofore usedfor the measurement directly of high frequency currents. Another object of this invention is to deter- -mine the magnitude of an unknown impedance for high frequency currents. A further object of the invention is to determine the fre' quenc'y of a current by utilizing. the general principles set forth hereinbefore.

This invention will be clearly understood from the following description when readin connection with the" attached'drawing, of'

40 which Figure 1 shows means for measuring an unknown impedance employing-balanced vacuum tubes; and Fig. 2 shows means employinvacuum tubes for crosstalk measurements, ased upon the same principle underlying the impedance measurement systems.

In the arrangementsv shown in Figs. 1 and 2,

vacuum tubes have been used:V for translat-l ing the high frequency measuring currents into direct current potentials for effecting a, 50 balance in the circuit containing the indicatimpedance 5 under measurement.

Serial No. 220,235.

ing device. In-Fig. 1, a source of high frcquency alternating current 1 is connected across the terminals2 and 3 of a branch containing an unknown impedance 5 and a known variable resistance 4. The source 1-A is .also connected with the grids of the vacuum circuit .of these tubes comprises a differential galvanometer 16, so connected as to be aff ected by a difference in the plate currents of the tubes. Condensers 17 and 18 are connected across the output circuit to shunt any high frequency currents that may be present in the output side of the tubes.

In order to produce zero deflection upon 'the differential galvanometer the voltage across the variable resistance 4 must be made equal to that across the unknown impedance 5 since the currents in both vcases are one and the same, and the impedance between the filament and the grid circuits of the tubes is very large compared to that of the unknown That is to say, the high frequencyv testing current from the source l will flow through the branch containing the impedance 5 and the resistance 4 and will cause a difference of potential acro'sseach of these elements. If these dif- .ferences in potential are unequal, the grid ferent, thereby producing a resultant direct current which Will cause a movement of the needle of the galvanometer 16. By varying the magnitude of the resistance 4 the voltages applied to the grids may be made substantially equal, which will be evidenced by the posi- -tion of the needle ofthe galvanometer.

When this condition obtainsv the reading of the resistance 4 will be a measurement of the total impedance of the unknown impedance V5. Theforegoing method, however, does not indicate the distribution of the resistance and the reactance components of this impedance.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 is 'designed for measuring .he high frequency d' potentiometer, lwhich is connected with the crosstalk', namely, the interfering current produced in' one circuit when current is transmitted over another parallel circuit, which interfering current is due to capacity or inductance unbalance existing in or etween the said circuits. In Fig. 2 the source of high frequency current 1 is connected direc'tly with the transmitting line 21. Bridged across the v terminals 2 and 3 ofthe transmitting line is av variable resistance 4, in the nature of a potentiometer, which is connected with the grid and filament ofthe vacuum tube V2 of the balance indicating device. The receiving line 22, namely, that in which the interfering crosstalk current is set up, is connected with another resistance 23, also in the nature of a grid and filament of the vacuum tube V1. The output sides of these vacuum tubes are connected with a common output circuit ;which includesv the differential'galvanometer 16 andcondensers 17 and 18.. ,When the oscillator 1 is applying high frequency currents to .the line 21 for transmission thereover, a

definite amount of this current will flow through resistance 4, thereby producing a differenceof. potential across the terminals thereof equal tothe potential created by the source 1. The crosstalk current set up iny the line 22 will flow through the resistance 23 -and produce a difference of potential across its terminals, a proportional part of whichis applied between the grid and the filament of the tube V1. By varying the position'of the movable contact point 24 upon the resistance 4, the potential applied to the tube V2l may be made equal to that applied to the tube ,V1, so that lthe plate currents of both tubes will be equal. When this condition obtains, the direct current'flow'ing through the Windings of the differential galvanometer 16 will be equal and o posite and no deflection of the needle thereo will result. When the system is balanced, as outlined above, the proportionate resistance spannedcby the connecti-ngcircuits of the grids of the tubes V1 and V2 will represent the current ratio between the transmitting and the receiving circuits, which if desired may be expressed in units of c ros'stalk or in miles of standard cablew whlch are well known standards of measure-A ment. f

It willbe seen that by means of the arrangements shown and described herein, impedances-and losses may be measured at high frequencies and with greater accuracy than possible heretofore by virtue of the translaembodied in particular forms it is to be understood that it is capable of embodiment in other` formswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. p* What is claimed is: l 1. kIn a high impedance measuring circuit the combination witha source of alternating current of a Wheatstone bridge network havking an unknown impedance constituting one arm of the network, a known resistance the second thereof, a differential indicating device the windings of which constitute the third and fourth arms, a rectifier connected in series vwith the said first and third arms and a second rectifier connected Ain series with the said second and fourth arms.

.2. In a higliimpedance measuring circuit the combination with a Wheatstonebridge network comprising an unknown impedance constituting one arm of the network, a known variable resistance constituting the second arm thereof, asource of alternating current Y bridged across said arms, a vacuum tube rectifier having its grid connected with the. said 'first arm, a differential .indicating device having one winding connected withtle plate of the said rectifier, a second vacuum tube rectifier havingl its grid connected 4'with the second arm and its plate with the other windingof the said indicating device, and sources A of current to activate the said vacuum tubes.

3. A cross-talk measuring device comprising a transmission circuit having a. source of potentialv connected therewitha receiving circuit exposed to cross-talk from the said transmission circuit, a known-variable vresistancebridged across the said transmisof, another known resistance bridged across tectors to be acted u on by the difference in Y the plate currents lo the said vacuum tubes. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to 'this'sriecification this 15th dayof September, 192

HERMAN A.' AFFEL.

- tion of the high frequency currents-into equiv- -alent direct current potentials by suitable devvices 'before measurement. While onl the three-element vacuum'tube has beenffs own j for' this purpose it is to be understood that any equivalent means forcarrying out the princlple of translation may also be used.

While this invention has been disclosed as 

